Avanti Settles With GM Over StudebakerThe Associated Press is reporting that GM and Avanti have reached an out-of-court settlement regarding Avanti's Studebaker XUV. The General, you'll recall, was miffed at Avanti because the small-volume automaker's Super-Duty-based SUV looked too much like the Hummer H2, and asked Avanti to cease production of the vehicle.
Under the terms of the settlement, Avanti will revamp the Studebaker's looks by increasing the rake of the windshield, removing the hood latches and vents, and making the side windows larger. The new-look Studebaker is scheduled to debut next spring at the New York Auto Show.
DrivelinesCoolest Reading Places SpecialThe Middle East is still a dangerous place for the men and women of our armed forces, yet those brave and selfless 4-Wheel & Off-Road fans keep sending us cool reading submissions. Here are a few more of their words and pictures from the world's hot spots.
RecallsIf you own one of the following vehicles and haven't been notified by the maker that your vehicle is under recall, get yourself down to your local dealer to find out if the recall affects your 4x4.
*'02-'03 Suzuki Grand Vitara and Grand Vitara XL-7: Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regarding windshield mounting. The windshield may not be properly secured to the vehicle body due to insufficient adhesion between the paint applied during the second-stage painting process and the paint applied during final-stage painting. If the windshield is not properly secured, it may separate from the vehicle during a crash, which could result in the ejection of unbelted occupants, increasing the risk of severe injury or death. Vehicles that are found to have insufficient paint adhesion will either be repainted, replaced, or purchased and destroyed. Owners may contact Suzuki at 800/934-0934.
*'03 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500: On certain heavy-duty pickup trucks, the aluminum wheels may have excessive porosity in the center hub, which can cause a wheel to crack. This could cause a loss of vehicle control and result in a crash without warning. Dealers will inspect the wheels and replace them if necessary. Owners may contact DaimlerChrysler at 800/992-1997.
Ford Unveils Techno-ExplorerIt sees in the dark, will help its driver avoid accidents, and has an interior that its owner can configure any number of ways. From the outside it may look like just another Ford Explorer, but this is the Smart, Safe Research Vehicle, or S2RV. Ford engineers fitted it with the latest in electronics gear, including Active Night Vision, Adaptive (steerable) Headlights, a Wireless Proximity Warning System, an Accident Avoidance Camera System, and a Rear Collision Warning System. (Maybe blind people will be able to drive after all.)
Interior appointments include wireless Bluetooth connectivity for cellular phones, a SmartNav navigation system, and reconfigurable displays and switches. How does that work? There are a number of docking stations inside the SUV into which a driver can plug what are known as smart switches. So if you like your window buttons on the console rather than the door panel, you can plug them in there.
Is this Ford in our future? "You can bet that many of these features will be seen in Ford vehicles of the future," said Dr. Ron Miller, S2RV's project leader.